Image copyrightAPImage caption
Julius "Juju" Malema articulates the anger of many following last month's killings at Marikana

Firebrand politician Julius Malema has called for a national strike in South Africa's mines.

"They have been stealing this gold from you," Mr Malema told cheering miners on strike at a gold mine west of Johannesburg, "now it's your turn."

Strikes have already halted production at several gold and platinum mines in the resource-rich country.

But some accuse Mr Malema of political opportunism amid seething anger over last month's deaths at Marikana mine.

Forty-four people died at the Lonmin-owned platinum mine in mid-August - 34 miners shot in a single day by police.

A commission of inquiry is looking into events at that mine, but observers say the issue is tapping into disquiet over the ruling ANC's links to big business and alleged neglect of the working classes that have made up its historical support base.

Outcast

"There must be a national strike," Mr Malema told workers on strike at the Gold Fields International KDC, at a stadium in Carletonville, close to its gold mine.

Analysis

By Farouk ChothiaBBC News

Branded a demagogue by his critics, South African youth leader Julius Malema is using the Marikana killings - the most deadly police action since white minority rule ended 18 years ago - to resuscitate his political career.

Mr Malema is hoping that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party will oust President Jacob Zuma as its leader at its national conference in December - and reverse the decision taken in April to expel him for sowing divisions in the party.

Mr Malema is exploiting the killings - which saw police shoot dead 34 striking miners at the Marikana mine on 16 August - to reinforce his image as the champion of poor black South Africans, though he also has some support in black business circles.

He moves with ease between the two groups, toyi-toying (a revolutionary dance popularised during the anti-apartheid struggle) at rallies in shack settlements, before slipping away to leafy suburbs for all-night parties with the nouveau riche.

Johannesburg-based political analyst William Gumede argues that Mr Malema is similar to politicians in Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF party, led by President Robert Mugabe.

There is concern that industrial unrest may be spreading, with the strike continuing at Marikana and now a reported 15,000 workers on strike at Gold Fields - the second strike at the mine in as many weeks.

The Cosatu trade union federation allied to the ANC, criticised Mr Malema's call for a national strike, saying he was "inflam[ing] tensions within the mining industry, flames which he is quite incapable of quenching".

The strike at Marikana was called by a new union, not affiliated to Cosatu.